[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":255},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-mark-pieth-fighting-corruption-with-the-basel-institute-and-beyond-2297":3,"news-mark-pieth-fighting-corruption-with-the-basel-institute-and-beyond-2297-similar":41,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":250},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":15,"activity":16,"nid":18,"topics":19,"activities":20,"programme":21,"area":21,"websites":22,"language":21,"image":24,"translation_of":21,"countries":35,"tags":36,"authors":37,"images":38,"translations":39,"content":40},10314,"published","2022-11-08T11:01:25.000Z","2026-04-27T21:01:58.000Z","Mark Pieth: Fighting corruption with the Basel Institute and beyond","Blog","_Article by Mark Pieth, Founder and former President of the Basel Institute on Governance._\n\nOn October 1, I officially handed over the baton as President of the Basel Institute on Governance to Peter Maurer. After founding and leading the organisation for around 20 years, this was a significant moment for me.\n\nI feel a mix of pride, anticipation and deep gratitude. First, for the tremendous [Board](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fgovernance) members that have supported our mission for so many years. Second, for the [leadership team](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople) and staff that have not only made our vision a reality but transformed it into so much more. It has been quite a journey.\n\n### A brief history\n\nBack in 1989, I was working as Head of Section on Economic and Organised Crime at the Swiss Federal Office of Justice. In that role I was involved in early efforts to develop international regulations on money laundering (as a Member of the Financial Action Task Force) and corruption (as Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery, a position I held for 24 years).\n\nThose experiences gave me significant hands-on knowledge of these topics. I developed strong personal views, but I also saw a wider need. The international agenda on corruption and money laundering was just starting to take shape. In those formative years, it was critical to involve people who understood the issues and cared deeply about getting policies and actions right.\n\nAfter becoming a Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Basel in 1993, I therefore decided to convene a core group of three individuals, plus interested academics and business representatives. This provided an independent platform for us to contribute our knowledge to policy dialogues and to fulfil specific advisory missions. We also experimented with early forms of [Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action), bringing together businesses with public sector and civil society representatives to tackle specific issues of business integrity.\n\nThe Basel Institute on Governance existed as a letterhead from the early 1990s. It was established as a Foundation and an Associated Institute of the University of Basel when we received a major donation in 2003.\n\n### Evolutions in corruption and anti-corruption\n\nIn the early days, corruption was considered a technical issue of criminal law. The awareness that it was a fundamental worldwide problem undermining sustainable development and trust in society grew over time. Gradually, anti-corruption approaches also widened beyond the early efforts in international law towards a much more holistic picture. That was the world into which the Basel Institute was born.\n\nFor me personally, the wider thrust of the Basel Institute’s activity has always been the challenges posed by the deregulated, globalised world that we inherited following the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall opened up markets and brought positive developments for many people. But the free movement of capital and services did not necessarily raise standards of living for everyone.\n\nConflicts have continued to rage. Organised crime has been on the rise. Corporations have colluded with corrupt elites to embezzle the natural resources of desperately poor countries. Many citizens even in rich states live a precarious existence, thanks to the outsourcing of jobs to low-wage economies and to the instability caused by short-term policies and happy-go-lucky financial markets.\n\nAll these developments create dark spaces for corruption to occur. The ultimate goal of the Basel Institute‘s anti-corruption work under my leadership has always been to bring light to those dark spaces and to improve the lives of citizens everywhere.\n\n### Milestones and achievements\n\nIn its early days, the work of the Basel Institute was very much associated with my [personal activities](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fabout-me\u002Fcv) in fora like the UN, OECD, Council of Europe, World Bank and regional international financial institutions. Gradually, we entered the field of anti-corruption compliance, helping companies and organisations apply the international standards to which we had contributed.\n\nA key step was the creation of the [Wolfsberg Group](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wolfsberg-principles.com\u002F) of private banks in 1999. Now one of the longest-running Collective Action initiatives, the Wolfsberg Group recently became an [independent legal entity](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcollective-action-in-banking-the-wolfsberg-groups-role-in-a-fast-evolving-industry-2202) housed at the Basel Institute.\n\nOther [Collective Action initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F) followed as we tested different ways to bring diverse stakeholders together and build the trust they needed to overcome their common problems. Back then, Collective Action was still considered a novel approach. The Siemens Integrity Initiative, which emerged from Siemens’ [settlement](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fsiemens-and-the-european-investment-bank-fostering-integrity-through-collective-action-and-constructive-settlements-2133) with the World Bank and European Investment Bank, gave a strong boost to our efforts. I am proud now to see that anti-corruption Collective Action tools and approaches have blossomed around the world. It is on the path to becoming a standard element of both state-led corruption prevention efforts and private-sector compliance.\n\nAnother key development was the decision in 2006 to create the [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) (ICAR). The idea was to help countries whose public funds had been plundered by politicians build capacity to recover the stolen money. This was and still is a major need, since only a tiny proportion of corrupt funds are ever traced, confiscated and returned to the countries they were stolen from. With the help of stable funding from ICAR’s core donor group, the Basel Institute has managed to build up a global team of some of the most experienced former law enforcement and legal specialists in this area. Demand for ICAR’s assistance continues to grow.\n\nBeyond that, the Basel Institute’s relentless focus on [evidence](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-governance) and its expansion into other areas such as [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) are to a large extent down to the vision and talent of its Managing Director, Gretta Fenner.\n\n### Looking ahead\n\nSince retiring from teaching at the University of Basel, I have set up a boutique law firm (Office Pieth) and spent more time delving into abuses of power in particular areas.\n\nMy book on [_Gold Laundering_](https:\u002F\u002Felstersalis.com\u002Fprodukt\u002Fgschnaetzlets-mark-pieth\u002F) (in English and German) has triggered widespread concern about human rights violations and environmental harms in the gold trade. Among the initiatives to address these concerns is [Basel Gold Day](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fgold-day-II), in which we convene relevant stakeholders including regulators, civil society groups and private-sector firms and associations involved the gold trade.\n\nMy most recent project has looked at problems in the shipping industry exacerbated by gaps in regulation, resulting in the publication of a book in German: [_Seefahrtsnation Schweiz_](https:\u002F\u002Felstersalis.com\u002Fprodukt\u002Fseefahrtsnation-schweiz-mark-pieth-kathrin-betz\u002F).\n\nCloser to my legal background, I am working on the effects of illegal activities like corruption, fraud or money laundering on the world of arbitration through the [Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002F) and our annual workshops.\n\nIn all this work and more, now and in the future, I will continue to apply the principles by which I led the Basel Institute for the last 20 years. I look forward with great hopes and anticipation for the Basel Institute’s next steps in this ever changing world.","2022-11-08",[14],"","mark-pieth-fighting-corruption-with-the-basel-institute-and-beyond-2297",[17],"Insights",2297,[],[17],null,[23],"Main page",{"id":25,"storage":26,"filename_disk":27,"filename_download":28,"title":9,"type":29,"created_on":30,"modified_on":30,"charset":21,"filesize":31,"width":32,"height":33,"duration":21,"embed":21,"description":21,"location":21,"tags":21,"metadata":34,"focal_point_x":21,"focal_point_y":21,"tus_id":21,"tus_data":21,"uploaded_on":30},"79b82bd8-8cf9-4350-ad86-03aef103ce3a","local","79b82bd8-8cf9-4350-ad86-03aef103ce3a.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:16:06.000Z",52028,1400,1050,{},[],[],[],[],[],[],[42,67,93,116,139,162,185,207,230],{"id":43,"body":44,"status":6,"type":45,"date":46,"slug":47,"title":48,"image":49,"countries":50,"topic":51,"activity":52,"tags":53,"nid":54,"topics":55,"activities":56,"authors":57,"images":58,"websites":59,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":60,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":62,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":64,"content":65,"link":66},10373,"We are delighted to publish our [2022 Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Far.baselgovernance.org\u002F), this year in a new interactive version.\n\nThe Annual Report spotlights eight stories from our work around the world. They illustrate not just _what we do,_ but _how we work_ to achieve real and lasting progress in the fight against corruption.\n\n*   How we seek to change behaviours using a range of prevention and enforcement tools.\n*   Our continual efforts to encourage dialogue between stakeholders.\n*   The fact that people are at the heart of our work.\n*   Keeping up with the changing nature of corruption by fostering virtuous learning circles and helping practitioners to help each other.\n\nWe take the opportunity to thank Professor [Mark Pieth](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fmark-pieth-fighting-corruption-basel-institute-and-beyond), our Co-Founder and President for nearly 20 years, and to welcome his successor Peter Maurer.\n\nWe also highlight two long-standing members of our Management Group who are taking a step back after long and productive careers: [Gemma Aiolfi](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fevolutions-anti-corruption-compliance-hope-future), Head of Compliance and Collective Action until 2022, and [Phyllis Atkinson](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fpersonal-history-icar-training-qa-phyllis-atkinson), Head of Training at our International Centre for Asset Recovery until July 2023.\n\nOur achievements are shared success stories, jointly realised with our valued partners in government and international organisations, civil society and the private sector – to whom we are immensely grateful. As we move forward into our 20th year, we remain focused on a world of peace, where prosperity, equality and progress may thrive and corruption is crushed.\n\n*   [Read the Annual Report online](https:\u002F\u002Far.baselgovernance.org\u002F)\n*   [Download the PDF](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2023-06\u002FAR%202022%20DIGITAL.pdf)","News","2023-06-20","out-now-annual-report-2022-2470","Out now: Annual Report 2022","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F9245b10d-08f4-436a-9a5b-371305b49c8c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[14],[],2470,[],[],[],[],[23],[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2023-06-20T21:49:34.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fout-now-annual-report-2022-2470",{"id":68,"body":69,"status":6,"type":45,"date":70,"slug":71,"title":72,"image":73,"countries":74,"topic":76,"activity":80,"tags":81,"nid":82,"topics":83,"activities":84,"authors":85,"images":86,"websites":87,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":88,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":89,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":90,"content":91,"link":92},9948,"The Basel Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate with Colombian authorities to adapt and apply a [High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM)](\u002Fnode\u002F1098) to prevent corruption and promote fair competition in tenders related to the building of the City of Bogotá’s First Metro Line. The signing ceremony held on 6 August 2018 in Bogotá was one of the final acts by Colombia’s outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos on his last day in office and the day that marked the 280th anniversary of the founding of Bogotá.\n\nThe MoU was also signed by Bogotá Mayor Enrique Leñalosa Londońo, Mr. Andrés Escobar Uribe, General Manager of the Bogotá Metro Company, S.A., Mr. Nicola Bonucci, Director of Legal Affairs of the OECD and Mr. Oscar Solorzano, the Basel Institute’s head of Latin America Projects and Peru Country Manager on behalf of Prof. Mark Pieth, President of the Basel Institute Foundation Board.\n\nThe signing of this MoU was concurrent with the signing of credit agreements between the Colombian government and the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, and European Investment Bank who are providing financing for this major public project and the launching of the tender process for Bogotá’s First Metro Line.\n\nColombia was the first country to develop and implement an HLRM as a tool to address and respond to complaints of bribery solicitation or unfair business practices that might occur during public tenders. Former President Santos supported the creation of an HLRM in 2013 to be overseen by Colombia’s Transparency Secretariat, a high-level authority in the President’s office charged with fighting corruption and enhancing transparency. To date, Colombia’s HLRM has been active to oversee tenders in major roads and other infrastructure projects. \n\nThe HLRM concept was jointly developed by the Basel Institute, OECD and Transparency International in response to private sector concerns over the absence of quick and effective mechanisms for addressing bribe solicitation by some public officials in certain markets.\n\nPursuant to the MoU, the Basel Institute, OECD, Colombian authorities and Bogotá Metro company will collaborate through technical assistance, exchange of experience and information, and other activities to ensure the effectiveness of the application of the HLRM to this project. \n\nThe Basel Institute looks forward to continuing its strong collaboration with the Colombian government under President Iván Duque to further strengthen and promote the HLRM to this and other projects.\n\nThe full text of the MoU is available in [English](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-03\u002Fmou_hlrm_metro_de_bogota_english.pdf).","2018-08-08","colombia-to-use-high-level-reporting-mechanism-for-bogota-metro-procurement-79","Colombia to use High Level Reporting Mechanism for Bogotá metro procurement","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F3d5549c2-e8bc-44c0-8650-c2b893d85b0f?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[75],7528,[77,78,79],"Collective Action","HLRM","Private Sector",[14],[],79,[77,78,79],[],[],[],[23,77],[],"2022-05-26T22:57:43.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcolombia-to-use-high-level-reporting-mechanism-for-bogota-metro-procurement-79",{"id":94,"body":95,"status":6,"type":10,"date":96,"slug":97,"title":98,"image":99,"countries":100,"topic":101,"activity":102,"tags":104,"nid":105,"topics":106,"activities":107,"authors":108,"images":110,"websites":111,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":112,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":113,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":64,"content":114,"link":115},9740,"We are delighted to release our Annual Report 2019 – [view it here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).\n\nThe report highlights our achievements in the past year, but it also looks forward to the future. It is a chance to reflect on how corruption and governance are changing around the world and how we are adapting to new challenges. It is also a chance to thank, once again, our partners and donors for their unwavering support. \n\nHere is the foreword by Managing Director Gretta Fenner and President of the Board Mark Pieth.\n\n### Corruption and poor governance: enemies of the people\n\nAs we write this note for our annual report, the world has become a different place. A global pandemic is spreading fast, globalisation has come to a virtual standstill, and almost everything we took for granted is no longer a given.\n\nWe have been warned. Not specifically about covid-19, but about the risk of a global pandemic. Yet in many countries we see that structures are not in place and warnings have been ignored for too long. As we are still grappling to understand what is happening, one cannot help but ask, whether governance systems have failed us.\n\nWhen essential services are deprived of funding because it does not fit the political agenda of those in charge, this points to distorted governance systems that fail to set the right priorities for the public good. And can we really disregard the role corruption has played in fuelling this crisis? No, we cannot. It is clear that public officials have received grease payments to turn a blind eye to illegal trade in endangered species and disregard sub-standard hygiene in markets from where the  virus has seemingly spread.\n\nFighting corruption and strengthening governance may not be at the top of most officials’ priority lists right now as they are busy trying to control the spread of the virus and keep mortality levels low. But when we take a step back and have more space to reflect on underlying causes, we will have a terrible re-awakening to the realisation that corruption and bad governance are devastating our world and our lives.\n\nThat’s why at the Basel Institute, we see our mission of combating corruption and strengthening governance not as a cause in itself. Instead, we see it as our contribution to sustainable development, equitable growth, stability, respect for human rights and peace.\n\nOur team has worked hard again in 2019 to make inroads toward these overarching global goals. We are proud of our achievements, and acutely aware how our work interplays with the work of many others, be it in anti-corruption and governance or in other fields. This includes health, where corruption and weak governance compromise the achievement of better development outcomes. \n\nOur partnerships with governments, the private sector, other international organisations and civil society are critical. The covid-19 crisis has shown us like nothing else that we need to come together to go forward.\n\nWe hope that the work we describe in our annual report inspires you. By now, when we write this foreword, we know only too well what topic will dominate the year 2020. We sincerely hope to make a contribution to fighting the root causes of this pandemic, so that we may come out of this tragic crisis not only with losses, but also with a new understanding of our global responsibilities, individually and collectively.\n\n[Download the annual report here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).","2020-05-17","our-annual-report-2019-looking-back-but-mostly-forward-1747","Our Annual Report 2019: looking back, but mostly forward","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Ffbcf85c1-981c-4bb2-8107-c4a6bde291e6?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[103],"Reports",[],1747,[],[103],[109],1232,[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:55:01.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Four-annual-report-2019-looking-back-but-mostly-forward-1747",{"id":117,"body":118,"status":6,"type":10,"date":119,"slug":120,"title":121,"image":122,"countries":123,"topic":124,"activity":125,"tags":127,"nid":128,"topics":129,"activities":130,"authors":131,"images":133,"websites":134,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":135,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":136,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":64,"content":137,"link":138},10309,"Peter Maurer became President of the Basel Institute on Governance in October 2022, succeeding the Basel Institute’s founder and President for nearly 20 years, Professor Mark Pieth.\n\nIn this short interview, Peter Maurer reflects on his decision to join the fight against corruption after 25 years as a Swiss diplomat and 10 as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).\n\n### Why the pivot to corruption?\n\nThroughout my 35-year diplomatic and humanitarian career, I have seen in so many contexts how corruption and poor governance cause human suffering and impede progress towards peace and sustainable development. \n\nCorruption fuels and exacerbates humanitarian crises linked to war and armed conflict, food insecurity, health emergencies and the effects of climate change. It squanders funds intended for essential services like health and education, skews the incentives of leaders away from the best interests of citizens, and destroys trust in institutions. High corruption risks hinder access to foreign investment and markets, holding back economic development. \n\nAll these factors reduce the ability of states to meet the needs of their own citizens, in normal times as well as periods of crisis.\n\nAt the ICRC, we were mandated to assist and protect populations affected by armed conflict and violence and help them cope through humanitarian emergencies. Now, at the Basel Institute, I wish to focus on tackling some of the underlying causes of this human suffering: corruption and poor governance.\n\n### What is the link with international development assistance?\n\nI have seen first-hand the importance of good governance to make humanitarian and development cooperation programmes work effectively. \n\nCorruption diverts flows of aid and investment from those who most desperately need it, undermining human rights and jeopardising assistance programmes. In contexts of weak governance and kleptocracy, well-intentioned aid and development funds may even exacerbate corruption by pouring money into contexts of low transparency, accountability, coordination and oversight. Also, mere perceptions of high levels of corruption may erode support for humanitarian or other international assistance in a country. \n\nTargeting corruption helps ensure that aid and other development assistance provided by governments, charities and citizens around the world actually reach their goals. It directly supports efforts to protect the lives and dignity of people in vulnerable situations.\n\n### So anti-corruption is not just about corruption?\n\nAbsolutely not. Corruption affects the whole of society and fighting it is a collective responsibility.\n\nCorruption and the quality of governance impact fundamentally on our ability to reach each of the sustainable development goals. This is not just a problem of less developed or fragile states and contexts, but has deep impact on the global economy and the international cooperation system. When states abuse their geopolitical and economic leverage to unduly benefit their own interests to the detriment of others – well, that too severely impedes global progress towards peace and stability.\n\nThose of us who work in the “fields” of anti-corruption, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, human rights, environmental conservation, etc., are all working on different parts of the same system, using different methods and methodologies to pursue their objectives. This plurality is important as it is critical to work in complementarity and to ensure the best possible impact of scarce resources.\n\n### Why the Basel Institute on Governance?\n\nFirst, for reasons of its long-standing dedication to countering corruption and improving standards of governance for the sake of people and our planet. The work of my 120 or so new colleagues has tangible and long-lasting impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods. That holds true whether they are facilitating the return of stolen assets, mentoring best practice in private-sector compliance, or applying anti-corruption tools to combat environmental crimes.\n\nSecond, for its political independence and agility and for its professionalism in dealing with complex political and societal issues. These are even more important in a highly polarised environment within many countries and in the international system overall.\n\nThird, for its position at the interface between technical excellence and policy advancement. The Basel Institute helps to bridge the gap between those on the front lines of fighting corruption and those taking decisions in high-level international fora and government cabinets. \n\nBut just as much as what the Basel Institute does, it is how it works and has developed methods to navigate difficult environments. \n\nThe basis of our work is always evidence – of what is or could be effective, what isn’t, how to tailor different anti-corruption approaches to different contexts and how to demonstrate change. The teams integrate prevention and enforcement, seek out windows of opportunity and work through partnerships and across stakeholder groups. \n\nPeople are always at the centre, to bring change and to benefit from the change. So are efforts to learn, share learning and improve together. \n\n### What will you bring to the Basel Institute’s work?\n\nI hope my experiences in international diplomacy and cooperation will help the Basel Institute to reach higher and wider in its work and to build broader support for its important endeavours. We can do more to push leaders to live up to their commitments and show pathways to do so through exemplary leadership.\n\nI hope my continued focus on people, sustainable development, peace and security will help us to have even greater impact on the ground in the longer term. \n\nAnd lastly, I hope also to continue building political and operational bridges between those who work on “tackling corruption” and those who labour tirelessly in other ways to help their fellow citizens live safe, prosperous and dignified lives.","2022-10-24","peter-maurer-on-corruption-sustainable-development-and-joining-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2295","Peter Maurer on corruption, sustainable development and joining the Basel Institute on Governance","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F456c28a2-af02-4d81-a4a9-33fa8e71d062?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17,126],"Media releases",[],2295,[],[17,126],[132],1157,[],[23],[],"2022-10-24T10:01:23.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fpeter-maurer-on-corruption-sustainable-development-and-joining-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2295",{"id":140,"body":141,"status":6,"type":45,"date":142,"slug":143,"title":144,"image":145,"countries":146,"topic":147,"activity":148,"tags":149,"nid":150,"topics":151,"activities":152,"authors":153,"images":154,"websites":155,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":156,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":157,"user_updated":158,"date_updated":159,"content":160,"link":161},9545,"Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since 2012, is set to take over as President of the Board of the Basel Institute on Governance when he steps down as ICRC President in September 2022.\n\nHe succeeds the Basel Institute’s founder and President, Professor Mark Pieth.\n\nSince establishing the Basel Institute in 2003 as an Associated Institute of the University of Basel, Mark Pieth has overseen the organisation’s steady development into a leading player in efforts to combat corruption and raise standards of governance around the world.\n\nBased in Basel, Switzerland, the Basel Institute counts 90+ staff working across Southern and East Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central and South Asia. It remains committed to working with the public and private sectors to promote anti-corruption and good governance, together with an extensive network of partners at the highest national and international levels.\n\nPeter Maurer commented:\n\n> Throughout my diplomatic career and during my time at the ICRC, a driving priority has been to alleviate the suffering of women, men and children caught up in terrible human disasters around the world. Now, with the Basel Institute, I want to focus on tackling the causes of much of this human suffering – corruption and poor governance.\n> \n> I am delighted to take over from Mark Pieth, a leading expert and pioneer in the fight against corruption, and look forward to helping the Basel Institute reach higher and wider in the global governance arena. Together, we can have even more impact among those people most affected by corruption, as well as those most strongly committed to fighting it.\n\nMark Pieth emphasised the value of Peter Maurer’s deep experience and reputation in international diplomacy and humanitarian action, saying:\n\n> If there is one thing I have learned in over 30 years of holding the powerful to account, it is that corruption is not just a technical topic. It affects the whole of humanity and profoundly hurts people, especially the most vulnerable.\n> \n> I have also learned that not everyone likes to hear the anti-corruption message. That is precisely why we need to keep talking about it and amplify the voices of those who are willing to talk about it, from the streets to the media to the highest political and economic fora. Peter’s profile and experience makes him an ideal successor to help in elevating and spreading the message, and getting global leaders to live up to their commitments.\n\nPeter Maurer will join six other distinguished members of the Basel Institute’s [Foundation Board](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fgovernance), which is responsible for guiding the overall strategy of the Basel Institute.\n\nBorn in Thun, Switzerland, Peter Maurer holds a doctorate in history and international law from the University of Bern and has held various positions in the Swiss diplomatic service, including as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and Secretary of State. He became ICRC’s President in July 2012.\n\n### Media enquiries\n\nDownload a [PDF of the news release](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-11\u002FNews%20release%20Peter%20Maurer%20to%20be%20President%20of%20Basel%20Institute%20on%20Governance_25%20Nov%202021.pdf). For media enquiries at the Basel Institute on Governance, please contact [monica.guy@baselgovernance.org](mailto:monica.guy@baselgovernance.org)\n\nPeter Maurer is not available for media interviews at this time.","2021-11-25","peter-maurer-to-succeed-mark-pieth-as-president-of-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2135","Peter Maurer to succeed Mark Pieth as President of the Basel Institute on Governance","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F9739010b-989a-4cf0-9f77-23ee48ed351f?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[126],[],2135,[],[126],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:16.000Z","dfef11db-1bc6-47e9-a61d-93443995484b","2026-05-08T21:11:01.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fpeter-maurer-to-succeed-mark-pieth-as-president-of-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2135",{"id":163,"body":164,"status":6,"type":14,"date":165,"slug":166,"title":167,"image":168,"countries":169,"topic":170,"activity":171,"tags":172,"nid":173,"topics":174,"activities":175,"authors":176,"images":177,"websites":178,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":179,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":180,"user_updated":181,"date_updated":182,"content":183,"link":184},9986,"The President of the Basel Institute on Governance, Professor Mark Pieth, together with his long-standing friend and renown expert Fritz Heimann, who is a founder of Transparency International (TI) and still on TI’s Advisory Council, have just released their new book: _Confronting Corruption – Past Concerns, Present Challenges and Future Strategies._ \n\nThe book looks back as far as the end of the Cold War when the first inroads were made in creating a global anti-corruption movement; it analyzes the movement’s depth in outreach and impact since then as it has led to the creation of anti-corruption initiatives, programs and treaties. From there the book draws a number of general and specific lessons and goes on to suggesting new action plans for the future.\n\nThe book can be purchased [online](https:\u002F\u002Fglobal.oup.com\u002Facademic\u002Fproduct\u002Fconfronting-corruption-9780190458331?cc=ch&lang=en&).","2017-11-20","new-book-by-mark-pieth-quotconfronting-corruptionquot-reflects-on-fighting-corruption-in-the-past-present-and-the-future-104","New book by Mark Pieth: \"Confronting Corruption\" reflects on fighting corruption in the past, present and the future","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fe80a9b49-c14c-4e48-8841-febf5afb008b?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[14],[],104,[],[],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:58:05.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-04-15T22:28:48.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-book-by-mark-pieth-quotconfronting-corruptionquot-reflects-on-fighting-corruption-in-the-past-present-and-the-future-104",{"id":186,"body":187,"status":6,"type":10,"date":188,"slug":189,"title":190,"image":191,"countries":192,"topic":193,"activity":194,"tags":195,"nid":196,"topics":197,"activities":198,"authors":199,"images":201,"websites":202,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":203,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":204,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":90,"content":205,"link":206},10193,"_By Georg Florian Grabenweger, Policy Advisor at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA)._\n\n“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have laboured hard for,” the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said. And still the picture of this hero of knowledge, wisdom, and sincerity reminds our students of their quest for excellence when they walk up the staircase to IACA’s grand auditorium.\n\nThe International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) – an international organization with 60 Parties from all over the world and post-secondary educational, training, and research institute – was conceived by anti-corruption professionals and scholars of various backgrounds in 2005. It had been clear to them that a concerted effort, integrating the knowledge of all relevant disciplines, theory, and practice, and the experience of all societal sectors on a global level, would be positioned to make a real difference in the fight against corruption. This vision became reality in 2011 and has gained tremendous political support since then.\n\nOnly a few years later, we can now see the first harvest of IACA’s finest fruits with the graduation of the first class of the Master in Anti-Corruption Studies (MACS); a two-year, part-time programme designed for anti-corruption executives and practitioners who wish to remain fully employed while pursuing their degree.\n\nIt has frequently been bemoaned that anti-corruption post-secondary education and research are rare; that there are only a few places where practitioners could concentrate on anti-corruption issues alone; and that there were virtually no opportunities for practitioners to jointly contemplate challenging questions concerning corruption.\n\nAs one of the MACS students put it: “People who are committing those crimes are improving their style of commission. And if they are improving their style of commission, we as investigators also need to sharpen our own skills. The best part of this (is), that it will help me to network”.\n\nWe have seen from the first intake of the MACS programme that IACA is well positioned to attract the right audience. Bringing together 31 students from 17 countries and four continents, there were not only highly skilled professionals from the public sphere, but also specialists from the private sector, civil society, and academia, who had an average 8 years of experience in fighting corruption. It thus comes as no surprise that the MACS professors, who have seen many anti-corruption audiences all over the globe, where also excited to work with this extraordinary group of professionals.\n\nWith a focus on academic disciplines in the first year, the MACS began with an on-site module on “Concept and Theories of Corruption”, designed to identify the challenges in defining corruption, raise awareness on its diverse actors and different manifestations, and understand the development of this phenomenon over time. Contextualizing corruption in the social environment was given equal attention as the philosophical dimensions or psychological aspects which lead to corrupt behaviour.\n\nIn Module II, “Corruption and Economics”, micro and macroeconomic theories were introduced to shed light on the mechanisms devised by corrupt individuals and entities, and to elaborate on model strategies for counteracting these mechanisms.\n\nThe module “Politics and Corruption” put the topic again in the wider political context, making use of political science methods and carving out key features of corruptive relationships in the political governance of communities, regions, states, and the international sphere.\n\nIn Module IV, “Business and Corruption” examined how corruption manifests itself in the private sector, how corporate governance responds, and what adverse effects arise from failing to respond effectively.\n\nThe law module then focused not only on legal approaches to anti-corruption and the rule of law in general, but also specifically on how different international legal instruments and national legislation transcending its usual jurisdiction tackle the menace at its root on a global scale. The intrinsic link between human rights and corruption was also highlighted.\n\nThe last two modules paid special attention to linking theory with practice, focusing on enforcement and prevention. The enforcement module was devised to expose students to the practitioner as well as the policy and academic aspects of investigating corruption, from asset recovery to the role of whistleblowers, and to examine the relationship with civil society, the role of the media, and investigative journalism. Underlining IACA’s global approach, this module was held in Kuala Lumpur, in cooperation with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy.\n\nPrevention concluded the comprehensive tour de force of the MACS and acquainted the class with the latest methods of prevention in the private and public sectors, collective action techniques and international approaches, as well as trends that may shape the future of anti-corruption preventive efforts.\n\nThe programme was led by an Academic Consortium of Yale Professor Susan Rose-Ackerman, Northeastern University Professor Nikos Passas, and Basel University Professor Mark Pieth, as well as a team of visiting professors and practitioners from around the world specializing in the module topics. All the modules started off with intensive preparation through home study of the background materials. The on-site phases provided for intellectual exchange between the renowned faculty and expert student body. As one student put it, “I have benefitted tremendously from the knowledge and experiences of the lecturers and from the different perspectives they bring from their respective backgrounds and parts of the world. The interactions and class discussions with fellow MACS colleagues has also been tremendously useful. I don’t know where else I would have been able to benefit from the rich interdisciplinary exchanges we have had in the course of the MACS programme.” In the post-module phases, course assignments linked modular input with the real life anti-corruption situation of the working students.\n\nAfter two years of intensive work leading up to the Master Thesis defences over the last few days, on 9 December, International Anti-Corruption Day, IACA celebrated the achievements of the 2012-2014 class in front of family, friends, and a wider network of distinguished guests. For members of the MACS academic community, it is a time to rejoice the efforts of the students they have supported during their journey. The graduates were given a rousing send-off as they prepare to reinforce the fight against corruption in their countries, companies and societies while the second MACS class at IACA has already started to create the next generation of agents of change.\n\nJust as Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and guest of honour for the graduation ceremony put it: “Having followed the anti-corruption development from its very early stages in the nineties, now for me today, experiencing this only place in the world focusing exclusively on anti-corruption research and training, awarding its first Master degrees in anti-corruption studies, is a huge progress.”","2014-12-10","the-master-in-anti-corruption-studies-an-iaca-approach-to-collective-training-and-research-171","The Master in Anti-Corruption Studies – an IACA approach to collective training and research","\u002Fpics\u002Fimg-placeholder.png",[],[14],[17],[],171,[],[17],[200],1332,[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:59:24.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fthe-master-in-anti-corruption-studies-an-iaca-approach-to-collective-training-and-research-171",{"id":208,"body":209,"status":6,"type":10,"date":210,"slug":211,"title":212,"image":213,"countries":214,"topic":215,"activity":216,"tags":217,"nid":218,"topics":219,"activities":220,"authors":221,"images":224,"websites":225,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":226,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":227,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":64,"content":228,"link":229},9572,"Published today, our [Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fannual-report-2020) celebrates the achievements of our teams and partners around the world that we are most proud of in 2020. It also reveals some of the hurdles we were challenged to overcome together. There are many of both, and a lot more stories and highlights in between. \n\nThis year's report offers deep dives into some of our key focus areas.\n\n*   Our International Centre for Asset Recovery explains why we are supporting the use of non-conviction based forfeiture mechanisms to recover stolen assets, why our training team has launched a new open course on cryptocurrencies and AML compliance, and how Mozambique established a new Asset Recovery Office with our support.\n*   Meanwhile, our Public Governance team reveals why networks, not just individuals, are crucial to understanding and countering corruption.\n*   The report sets out the new strategy we have launched to address Green Corruption – the corruption and other financial crimes that drive environmental degradation. The popularity of our Corrupting the Environment webinar series, which we are offering together with the OECD, has demonstrated the breadth and depth of interest in this field. \n*   In the contributions from our Compliance and Collective Action teams on their work with the private sector, we explore how state-owned enterprises can address their corruption and antitrust risks. We also illustrate efforts to create guidance on reporting on the effectiveness of anti-corruption compliance programmes, with the example of a Collective Action initiative between healthcare companies.\n*   In Peru, our 30+ Public Finance Management specialists are breaking new ground with their innovative training approach, using social media and peer-to-peer learning.\n*   We also look at what the Basel AML Index revealed about money laundering trends in 2020, the role of virtual training beyond the pandemic thanks to our new Basel LEARN virtual learning platform, and how lockdown opened up fresh opportunities to maximise the potential of open-source intelligence, including through our Basel Open Intelligence search tool.\n\nThroughout the Annual Report, it is clear that our achievements depend greatly on the efforts of our partners and donors. And so this is also a chance for us to thank them warmly and to demonstrate some of the impact we are having together on the fight against corruption around the world.\n\nPlease flick through and stop to read, to think and to send us your ideas and insights – by email, over social media or in any other way.\n\n### Foreword\n\n\"We must revive the global social contract to fight the pandemic of corruption\" begins the foreword by Gretta Fenner, Managing Director, and Mark Pieth, President of the Board. They continue:\n\n> While medical research has been quick to develop protection against Covid-19, another pandemic continues to rampage humankind and our attempts at stopping it continue to fall short.\n> \n> We are talking about the widespread disease of corruption, which has become deeply rooted in our societies, and which plagues our communities, their social cohesion and economic wellbeing. It leaps effortlessly between public officials and businesses regardless of political colour, nationality or sector, helped by professional middlemen and rule-free blind spots where dirty money can go on holiday.\n> \n> This has never been more apparent than when the two pandemics met. Initial research seems to indicate that corruption levels rose to even higher levels during the pandemic. It might also be that seeing its deadly consequences from closer quarters made it more visible.\n> \n> What is certain is that more people are seeing through the corruption fog. Political protests and toppled governments around the world show that more people are upset about it, and that is a good development. Those of us who work in the light can only fight a threat that is seen.\n> \n> The ophthalmologists in this case are the many individuals, the journalists, civil society activists, researchers and law enforcement officials who, courageously and often at great risk, are standing up to corruption and dragging it into the daylight. This is a tremendous help for our work, and we hope that our effort helps them.\n> \n> But many of these anti-corruption heroes still fight a lonely battle. What’s more, they are faced with the overwhelming resources and power of the grand transnational corrupt networks that, collectively, stifle sustainable development and undermine the economic and social wellbeing of our societies.\n> \n> To amplify the work of the many courageous people and organisations, nation states, global enterprises and governance bodies should be coming together. But instead, what we see and what is of major concern is an increasing breakdown of global solidarity and a return of increasingly divisive and at best nationalistic domestic and global politics.\n> \n> So we urge politicians and business leaders to revitalise the global social contract – which is competently guided by the Sustainable Development Goals – by showing true and courageous leadership that disregards geographical, social, economic or other borders.\n> \n> But before we are misinterpreted: We are not waiting for another global leaders’ declaration; there are plenty of those. We are waiting for these key stakeholders to really do what they preach. And in doing so, to ask more of themselves and of each other than ever before. This means not just meeting but going beyond the requirements of international treaties and standards.\n> \n> Those who risk their lives to fight corruption, and those who lose their lives because of corruption, every day, in every corner of the world, deserve at least that.\n> \n> So, as we rightly celebrate the healthcare workers and other providers of essential services that are helping their fellow citizens get through the Covid-19 pandemic, let us also celebrate – and actively support – those individuals who resist, stand up and fight against corruption.\n> \n> We have done our best to do just that throughout last year, and we will continue on this mission, hopefully with more backing from true leadership, for the good of everyone in this world.\n\n[Download our Annual Report 2020](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fannual-report-2020)","2021-08-13","annual-report-2020-on-fighting-the-pandemic-of-corruption-2071","Annual Report 2020: On fighting the pandemic of corruption","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F191b6cd3-28c7-4b7d-b21b-ef0cec06cdae?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[103],[],2071,[],[103],[222,223],1187,1188,[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fannual-report-2020-on-fighting-the-pandemic-of-corruption-2071",{"id":231,"body":232,"status":6,"type":45,"date":233,"slug":234,"title":235,"image":191,"countries":236,"topic":237,"activity":238,"tags":239,"nid":240,"topics":241,"activities":242,"authors":243,"images":244,"websites":245,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":246,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":247,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":90,"content":248,"link":249},9900,"_\"For fighting corruption, the focus is very much on what the private sector do. And we're turning very much to India and China as places where things are happening.\"_ \n\nBasel Institute President Mark Pieth talks to Jessica Davis Plüss at swissinfo.ch about corruption and the private sector's role in tackling it. \n\nPieth also touches upon inequality, populist governments, tax fraud and the need for tax harmonisation. _\"Can we worldwide agree on some kind of level or will people escape to places like Switzerland to pay less taxes than otherwise?\"_\n\n[View video on Swissinfo.ch](https:\u002F\u002Fplay.swissinfo.ch\u002Fplay\u002Ftv\u002Fpolitics\u002Fvideo\u002Fcorruption-inequality-tax-fraud---and-switzerland?id=44699820).","2019-01-23","mark-pieth-on-corruption-inequality-and-tax-fraud-interview-by-swissinfoch-at-the-world-economic-forum-564","Mark Pieth on corruption, inequality and tax fraud – interview by swissinfo.ch at the World Economic Forum",[],[14],[17],[],564,[],[17],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:57:17.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fmark-pieth-on-corruption-inequality-and-tax-fraud-interview-by-swissinfoch-at-the-world-economic-forum-564",{"left":251,"top":251,"width":252,"height":252,"rotate":251,"vFlip":253,"hFlip":253,"body":254},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780676474559]